A Quick Trip to the Jungle

1.12.2014

Off the top I want to say "Thank You" to all of you for the congratulations on my new gig. The sewcialist community is so awesome and I'm forever grateful for it. Big electronic hugs to everyone!

It's been really cold around these parts, so it seemed like the perfect time to take a little trip to the jungle. That's "code" for a trip to my fabric box of animal prints cause it's Jungle January peeps!
Yes, I do have a box devoted to animal prints and it growls ever so softly at night. I like to sing, "soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur," to it on a weekly basis so that it doesn't maul me in my sleep.  Anyway I dove deep in to that box looking for some long stashed knit to turn into a Renfrew.  This is what I found, a burnt out knit of some what hazy origins.
I'm 80% sure that this came from Fabricjunkeez a number of years ago.  She sells both on etsy and ebay and mainly stocks punk/goth themed fabric. She also has a healthy appreciation of animal prints/bird designs, so I've snagged a few pieces from her shop.  This knit was thin but stable and it seemed like the perfect thing to pair with the renfew pattern. You might say I was happy with the result.
I'm not gonna go into too much detail here cause about 95% of us have made a Renfrew.  If you haven't I'm gonna assume that the pattern doesn't come in your size or you've been in a coma for about 2 years.  To the first point I say, "Sorry," and to the second, "I hope you feel well rested."

There is one detail to show on this renfrew. Check out the insides.
I didn't want to worry about the burnt out portions showing undergarments, so I underlined the front and back pieces with a gray knit.  The gray knit was also stash and was too warm of a tone to flatter my coloring.  The knit is such nice quality that I kept hanging on to it, thinking I'd dye it or something.  This solution worked out even better. I get a really comfortable knit next to my skin and it makes this renfrew a lot more wearable.  Oh yeah, props to Past Heather for buying so much stuff. I raise a cookie in your honor. Then I'll put the cookie down and let Froggie eat it....stupid health goals.

Cookies or not Jungle January is my favorite print related holiday!  Now everyone say "GRRRRRRR"

31 comments:

  1. Ahahahaha: "soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur,"!!!!! I can't remember how hat song was made up on Twitter - Do you remember the context? Love it either way!

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  2. :-) even my kids sing "soft kitty". I like to modify it for my puppy, lol. It's on Big Bang Theory but I'm not sure if that is it's origin. Anyway. Love the top. Great idea with the underlining - it gives me ideas on some not so thick knits I need to use up. :D Looks great!

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  3. Lining a sheer knit... brilliant! I've bought a couple of burnout knits that are, um, lining my fabric storage area? That's an awesome idea! Love this on you! Keep cranking out the Jungle January fun!

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  4. It's from The Big Bang Theory: http://youtu.be/lqSmzGj_sQc

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  5. Your stash-busting is gr-r-r-r-r-eat! (There, now you have a giant animated tiger stuck in your head. You're welcome.) *furious pompom flurries*

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  6. Ahhh - need to get sewing my JJ14 outfit! I did cut into some snake print fabric tonight so I'm somewhat on my way. The Renfrew looks great in this print - and way to stash bust with the lining!

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  7. Love your leopard print Renfrew. This is definitely on my sewing list for next winter.

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  8. Fabulous! And I join you in your cookie and putting it down again salute.

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  9. Looks great... I would love to see your stash one day... It must be of epic proportion!
    And yes, I am one of the 5% of Renfrew-resisters... I like the pattern, but I just don't wear this kind of shirt very often. I was a bit in doubt as whether to buy or not, but now there is Plantain, so the decision was made for me...

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  10. Good job, Past Heather! Way to make things easy for Current Heather. I like the idea of underlining the knit, since camisoles don't always work.

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  11. Tehee, YES! It's from the Big Bang Theory. Or they got it from somewhere else... but that's where I first heard it. Purr, purr, purr :)

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  12. Love love love this! I actually have some white, sort of lacy-ish knit that I'll need to line once I figure out what to make with it. ps - I won't tell about the cookie if you won't...

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  13. GRRRRRRR.... Love the idea of underlining!

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  14. Did I make you sing that to your kitten? Hee hee

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  15. Looks grrrreat. I always think Renfrews look wonderful on everyone else, but I just can't do it for me, just don't think it would work.

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  16. Soft kitty or puppy is the best! Underlining has saved many a knit for me. I will admit that serging 4 layers together is annoying but going slow has worked.

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  17. Haa haaa, turn those burn out knits from "storage lining" to real clothing. Cause who wants to search for your nude bra every time you need to throw on a shirt.

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  18. "Why won't my damn camisole stay in place while I gesture aggressively?!" LOL Jamie, stop flipping your co-workers the bird. Get frog to do it sneakily from your purse.

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  19. Oh Tony the Tiger, I must say I kind of like you lurking around in my head. It's the jaunty bandanna that makes me love you. Andrea are you stuck under a dresser? Do I need to spend help and cookies? I hear Froggie's good with a jack.

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  20. Oooooo Shar, I like the sound of a snake skin print. Can't wait to see what you make.

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  21. Thanks Jean, I highly recommend adding any kind of Renfrew to your sewing list.

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  22. Sigh VickiKate, no cookie salutes are good for us, but still.

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  23. Oh yes Wendy, my stash is not quite the stuff of legend but is nearing it. Though my Grandmother had so much she stored half of it in garages.

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  24. Wooo hooo past purchases! I do still make some things that need camisoles but find that I'm less likely to wear them often. Guess it's that whole sew what you wear thing. :)

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  25. Excellent Jennifer and since it's white you can probably find something to underline it no problem. PS. Thanks for your cookie allowance.

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  26. Underline all the things!!!! No wait, all the things that need it. ;)

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  27. Argh I hate when that happens with a pattern! For me it's the sewaholic Cambie, so cute on everyone but me. I'm sure there's another knit shirt pattern out there for you Shell .

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  28. Probably so. Although I actually do still wear camisoles quite a bit--I want to figure out how to make my own, though, because those shelf bras are annoying and useless for me.

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  29. Ugh shelf bras are the worst and it's so hard to find a camisole without them.

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  30. lol! I haven't made a renfrew! Can you believe it? And I don't feel rested at all!

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  31. Haa haaa haaa, I'm glad you're out of your coma though Margo. Maybe you need to add renfrew to your sewing list.

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